Vertically adjustable hospital bed



July 24, 1962 s. s. SCHER 3,045,256

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE HOSPITAL BED Filed Nov. 5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENOR .S70/)ford .SI Sc/Ie/ Kam.. (JJFLQCKS ATTORNEY July 24, 1962 s. s. scHER VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE HOSPITAL BED 3 Sheets-SheerI 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1960 IIIIIVIIIP Il llpll IIJIIFI INVENTOR Sia/:ford 5I Schar KARL (L). :FLoclcs ATTORNEY llnited litates haten-.t

3,045,256 vEnTrCALLY Aninsrantn nosrrran aan Stanford S. Seher, Baltimore, Md., assigner to National This invention relates generally to bed frames which are constructed .to permit the raising and lowering of a mattress carrying frame, and are especially adapted for use for hospital Ibeds where it is necessary to vertically adjust the mattress carrying frame to accommodate the particular requirements of a patient.

AVertically adjustable bed frames per se have been prev-iously proposed and some of the difficulties in vertically adjustable bed frames have been that the manu-al effort required to :adjust the bed frames is considerable, repair and maintenance is generally rditlicult, chain drives and the like are utilized externally to transmit force, and when counterbalance springs are utilized, they must be carefully matched and no provision has been provided for `a pre-loading of any counterbalancing means to counterbalance the weight of the frame, mattrs and patient during the entire range of upward movement.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved vertically adjustable bed frame which includes a novel end construction.

A further object of the invention is rto provide a vertically adjustable bed frame which is counterbalanced throughout its range of vertical adjustment and in which the counterbalancing means may be adjusted and coordinated to distribute the oounterbalaucing force substan tially across the entire structure being vertically adjusted. Y Still `another object of the invention is to provide an improved vertically adjustable bed frame for supporting a mattress thereon, the -bed frame including a structure in which all of the operating mechanisms `are enclosed, and further including means whereby mismatched counterbalancing springs may he readily coordinated to impose equally distributed forces on the entire structure being vertically adjusted.

A still further object of the invention is Ito'provide a bed frame of the character set forth in which both end asv semblies of the bed frame are counterbalanced.

And yet lanother object of the invention is to provide, in =a bed frame of the character set forth, means whereby both ends of the `bed frame are raised and lowered simultaneously.

Other objectsand the nature and advantages of the instant application will be apparent from the following description-taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is aside elevation of fa novel bed frame, showing -by means of phantom lines the vertically adjusted position Iof thev mattress supporting frame and mattress;

FIG. 2 is an end view looking from right to left of FIG. l; Y

FIG. 3 is an end View looking from left to right at FIG, l; k v

FIG. 4 is `an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. l, with portions broken away and shown in section for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section takeny substantiallyonline 5-5 of FIG. -2; j

FIG.4 6 is Ian enlarged section taken substantially on line `66 of FIG. 2, with portions broken away land showing details ofthe `operating handle of the bed frame;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4, showing details of the adjustable force `'applying means for the counterbalance means of the novel bed frame;

j j y :tirarse Patented July 24, 1962 ice FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 4, Ishowing the manner in which the cross head for the support legsis fixed tothe support legs of the frame;`

and

j FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a vertically adjustable bed` frame is indicated generally at 10 and includes an end assembly 12, identified las the foot of the bed frame, an end assembly `14 identilied as the head of the bed. Each of the end assemblies 12 and 14 include conventional mounting brackets 16 and 18, respectively, -upon which are mounted opposite ends of conventional mattress supporting side rails Z0, only one being shown. Removably supported on the side rails 20 is a box spring 22 and mattress 24.

The end `assembly 12 or foot of lthe bed includes, adjacent the upper endportion thereof, a manually operated handle assembly 26 which willbe disposed `substantially at the height of a person operating the bed to `accordingly require `a minimum of bending down when operating the mechanism,

Each of lthe end assemblies 12 and 14 are substantially identical, and accordingly, only the end assembly 12, i.e., the foot, will be described .in detail. However, it will become readily apparent to those skilled in the ant that the operating handle assembly 2o may be readily incorporated on the end assembly 14, i.e. .the head of the bed.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the entire operating mechanism of the end 'assemblies will be enclosed by means of suitable side panels 28 and 30 constructed of `any suitable material, for example, `a synthetic plastic material Ior the like andthe edges of the bed will be covered with a suitable molding strip 32. For

' purposes of clarity and illustration, the edge molding and side panels have been removed in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, the end assembly 12, as well as the end assembly 14, comprises a pair of vertically extending parallel support legs 34 and 36 which have a substantially rectangular cross section as seen in FIG. 8. The legs 34 and 36 each includes in the lower end portion thereof a transverse block element 38 closing the lower end and including a vertically extending internally threaded bore 40' which receives therein a threaded mounting shaft 42 of a caster wheel assembly indicated generally at 44. Y

The legs 34 and 36 include on the opposed inner sur face portions thereof a horizontally disposed head member indicated generally at 46. The head member 46 comprises a pair of spaced rectangular plates 48 and 5d', which are retained in spaced relationship by means of mounting blocks 52 and transversenut-and-bolt assemblies 54. The blocks 52 include a longitudinally projecting mounting rib 56 which extends the entire width thereof, and abuttingly engages the opposed inner surfaces of the respective legs. The mounting blocks 52-include longitudinally extending bore portions 58,'see

FIGS. 4 land 8, in which are received suitable fastening screws 6d engaging in suitably tapped apertures in the support legs.

Fixedly secured by means of suitable nut-and-bolt assemblies 62 is a block element 64 including a vertically extending internally threaded bore 66 which will receive a force transmitting adjusting screw subsequently to be described in detail.

rl`he end assemblies 12 and 14 each includes a vertically adjustable head assembly indicated generally at `68 and upon which is mounted a force transmitting assembly indicated generally at 70.-V The head assembly 68 includes end sleeves 72 land 74 which are telescopically and reciprocably received on the support legs 34 and 36,

respectively, and which include a vertically extending slot portion 76, only one being shown, through which the rib portion S6 of the mounting blocks 52 extend, see FIGS. 4 and 8. Secured in horizontally extending relationship to the upper ends of the sleeves 72 and 74 is an upper head element 78 having depending therefrom a gear supporting casing 80, see FIGS. 4, 6 and 9. As seen in FIG. 6, the casing 80 has mounted on opposite side Walls thereof bearings x82 and 84 in which are received an operating shaft 86 which projects from the outer surface f the end assembly 12 and is connected by means of a suitable pin 88 to an operating handle 90 of the handle assembly 26. The mounting shaft 86 has pinned thereon a drive bevel gear 92 which meshes with and drivingly engages a driven bevel gear 94. Mounted in the lower end of the casing 80 is a mounting block 96 in which is supported a roller bearing assembly 98 through which extends a Vreduced diameter and uninterrupted portion 100 of an adjusting or driving screw 102. The gear 94 is suitably secured at 103 to the upper end of portion 100 of the screw-102. The screw 102 threadedly engages the threaded bore 66 of the block 64 and is of a relatively shallow pitch to accordingly prevent backdriving by the counter-balancing means of the bed frame which will subsequently be described in detail.

Extending horizontally between lower intermediate portions of the sleeves 72 and 74 adjacent the lower end of the slots 76 is a transverse support member 104 which includes a depending casing 106 which is in substantial alignment with the casing 80. Secured in an intermediate portion of the casing 106 is a mounting block 108 in which is mounted a bearing assembly 110 and which receives a lower uninterrupted and reduced diameter portion 112 of the screw 102. Fixed to the lower end of the portion 112 of the screw 102 by means of a pin 114 iS a bevel gear 116 which drivingly engages a gear 118 of a torque transmitting shaft 120, see FIGS. 4 and 5.

The casings 106 each have mounted on opposite sides thereof co-axial bearings 122 and '124. The bearings 122 and 124 on the foot end of the bed frame support the torque transmitting shaft 120 and they bearings at the head end of the bed frame support the shaft 120. The shaft'120' includes a diametrical torque transmitting pin 125 which is received in a transverse slot 126 opening into the end of a sleeve 127 telescoped on the shaft 120. The sleeve 127 has telescoped over its inner end one end of a sleeve 128, which is fixed to the sleeve 127 by a transverse pin 129.

The shaft 120 includes a transverse abutment pin 130 adjacent the bearing 124; see right hand side of FIG. 5, and receives on an integral torque-transmitting pin 131 the slotted end 132 of a sleeve 133 telescoped over the shaft 120. The sleeve 128 is telescoped over the inner end of sleeve 133 and includes a diametrically disposed pin 134 which is received in slot 132 of sleeve 133. A compression spring 135 extends longitudinally in the sleeve 128 and engages at one end an intermediate abutment pin 136, the other end of the spring engaging the end `137 of the sleeve 133.

The spring 135 normally urges the sleeves 128 and 127 into engagement with pin 125, and the sleeve 133 into engagement with pin 130. In order to disassemble the torque transmitting structure, the sleeves 127, 128 are moved as a unit to the right, off the end of shaft 120', -and the pin 134 will move in slotted end 132 to permit separation of the sleeve 127 from the shaft 120'.

In order to protect a support surface from oil drippings and to protect the operating mechanism ofthetorque transmitting structure from dust and the like, the members 104 of the respective end assemblies 12 and 14 may have suitably 'and removably secured thereto, by means of screws 142, a housing 144 beneath each casing 106 which is readily removable for purposes of maintenance and prevents oil dripping and dust contamination of the gears.

In the absence of additional structure, it will be observed that by manipulating the handle and rotating the shaft 86, the adjusting screws l102 in each of the respective end assemblies 12 and 14 will be rotated and react against the blocks 64 in the respective head assemblies and accordingly the sleeves 72 and 74, i.e. the head assemblies 68, will be vertically adjusted with respect to the head members 46 or the surface' upon which the legs 34 and 36 are supported by the caster wheels 44.

Each of the legs 34 and 36 have extending longitudinally therein energy storing or counterbalance means comprising elongated coil springs l146, the lower ends of which engage the block 38 in the bottom of the legs. The upper ends of the springs 146 receive therein the end portion 148 of an abutment collar 150 which includes an upwardly extending, reduced diameter shaft 152. Rotatably received on the shaft 152 is an externally threaded, tubular force applying element 154, the upper end of which is received in an internally threaded abutment block 156, see FIGS. 4 and 7. The blocks 156 are secured in the sleeves 72 and 74 by means of suitable screws 158, and the block 156 includes a laterally adjustable lock screw 160 engageable with the outer surface of the force applying element 154. The upper end portion of the force applying tube 154 includes a diametrical slot 162 for receiving a suitable driving tool whereby the element y154 may be rotated through a suitable opening 164 in the molding 32, see FIG. 4.

inasmuch as the novel bed frame is utilized particularly in hospitals, the opening 164 and open upper end of the tubular force applying element 154 will provide means whereby various rods for supporting plasma administering apparatus and the like may be readily supported.

It will be noted in FIG. 9, that the portion of the adjusting screw 102 has mounted in the place of the driven gear 94,v a block element 94 inasmuch as the operating handle assembly 26 is associated with the end assembly 12. If desired, the structure of the end assemblies 12 and 14 could be identical in this respect, or if preferred, the operating handle could be installed on the head ofthe bed instead of the foot.

As previously mentioned, the threaded portion of the adjusting or force transmitting screw of the force transmitting means 70is of a relatively shallow pitch and the pressure applying elements 154 may be adjusted to provide the dual function of matching the counterbalancing force of the energy storing coil springs 146 as Well as for the purpose of providing sucient counterbalancing force which will not cause back driving of the head assemblies with respect to the support means comprising the legs 34 and 36 and the cross head 46.

Thus, when patients of different weights utilize the vertically adjustable bed of the subject invention, they may vary anywhere from 100 to 250 lbs., it is readily apparent that the counterbalancing means may be readily adjusted in a hospital Without the aid of a specialized maintenance man, factory representative, etc. Further, all of the bearings utilized are self-lubricating, and accordingly maintenance in this respect is kept to a minimum. Still further, the side panels 28 and 30 of the end assemblies may be readily removed upon removal of the moldings 32 by means of removing screws `166, see FIGS.

1near1s 146 are disposed at the outer extremities of the head assembly 68l and thus force will be applied uniformly -across the head assembly, the element 78 thereof inielfrect acting as a simple beam. And still further, the

j head assembly 46 extends a substantial length of the legs 34- and 36 and provides an exceptionally rigid structure insuring stable reaction of the adjusting screws 102 Iagainst the -blocks `64. In addtiion, there is -afforded a direct drive which eliminates the necessity `for utilizing drive chains and the like which can become relatively noisy after continued use land which require frequent maintenance in order to keep the bed in proper operating condition.

It will be observed that the vertically adjustable bed of the invention may be dismantled and repaired on site and comprises a relatively simple structure which does not require a specialized maintenance man. Still further, the force applying element y154 provides means whereby the springs 146 may be pre-loaded and thus be effective through the entire range of vertical adjustment of the head assembly 64, i.e. by pre-loading the springs they will still Ibe under compression when the head assembly is `adjusted to its maximum vertical limit.

rlhis expedient is not provided in conventional vertical adjustable `beds and t-lius when an operator gets lto the upper portion of the vertical adjustment of conventional beds, the `springs are no longer effectively aiding in the vertical adjustment of such beds land excessive manual effort is required. Still further, the operating handle is located at `the upper end portion of the end assemblies Aand thus relatively little stooping, if any, is required by an operator of the bed so that a maximum amount of force can be concentrated at the operating handle assembly 26.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the inventi-on is not intended -to be limited Ito what is shown in the drawings and described in the speciication -but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An end assembly for use in a vertically adjustable bed comprising vertical support means for engaging a support surface, a head assembly reciprocally supported on said support means for vertical adjustment thereon, force transmitting means on `said head assembly and including a portion movable therewith for progressively adjusting said head assembly with respect to said support means, and counterbalance means interposed between said support means and head assembly and normally applying force through and beyond the entire range of vertical adjustment of said head assembly with respect to said support means, lsaid support means comprising a pair of spaced parallel vertical support legs, `said head assembly comprising a pair of tubular spaced parallel vertical sleeves respectively telescoped and guidingly engaged on said vertical legs, a horizontal head element extending between upper end portions `of said sleeves, said sleeves including opposed, vertically extending slots determining the range of vertical adjustment of said head assembly, a head member disposed substantially parallel to said vertical legs and xedly secured at opposite ends to said vertical support legs, said head member including a central reaction portion including an internally threaded, vertical bore portion, a support member disposed parallel to said head element and lixedly secured at opposite ends to said vertical sleeves, said force transmitting means comprising a vertically extending shaft depending from said head element and including an externally threaded portion engaged in said threaded bore to react against said reaction portion and head member durin-g rotation, said support member including transmission means mounted thereon and operatively connected to said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft causes simultaneous vertical movement of said lhead element, support member, vertically extending shaft and Vertical sleeves in guided relation on said support legs due to reaction forces centrally of said head member and equally distributed -on said support legs.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said counterbalance means comprises coil springs disposed in abutting relation between said support legs and said head member.

3. The structure of clairn 2 including pressure applying means adjustably retained on `said head member and engaged with one end of said coil springs for matching the residual force imposed by said coil springs.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the threaded p0rtion of said shaft and said threaded bore comprise a thread having a relatively shallow pitch to prevent back driving of said head member with respect to said support means due to the counter balancing means.

5. The structure of claim l wherein said force transmitting means comprises a manually rotatable handle operatively connected to said vertically extending shaft.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,090 Zisterer Apr. 2, 1918 1,271,747 Nagy July 9, 1918 1,890,009 Van Valkenburg Dec. 6, 1932 1,973,948 Fogelstrom Sept. 18, 1934 2,605,622 Anderson Aug, 5, 1952 2,614,405 Clausen Oct. 21, 1952 2,807,808 Wetzler Oct. 1, 1957 2,870,460 Sanford Jan. 27, 1959 2,885,692 Wetzel et al May 12, 1959 2,968,814 Ashby Jan. 24, 1961 3,015,113 Wallen Jan. 2, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 366,246 France July 24, 1906 

